There are plenty of accessible and fun days out for all the family, says Nigel Steele.
Days out should be fun, exciting and stress-free, however, as a wheelchair user, finding accessible activities and venues in the UK can be challenging. Whether you want to visit somewhere near you or have a day trip out, finding venues with disabled access and facilities can be time-consuming and frustrating. Thankfully there are now websites providing information regarding the accessibility of all sorts of venues around the UK. Perhaps best known is Euan’s Guide. I created the online directory Accessible Great Days Out UK to help users find accessibility information quickly and easily for hundreds of days out attractions and activities.
It’s worth contacting the attraction directly to find out what type of access they have and whether there is disabled access to all areas and activities. Especially if you will be outdoors, ask what surfaces they have, as some venues use gravel which can be difficult for the wheelchair to roll over. Check if there are any steps, steep slopes or potentially difficult areas you’ll need to navigate in order to see or join in any of the activities. It’s also worth asking them about ticket prices as quite often there are concessions for disabled visitors and some allow carers to attend for free. Another useful question to ask them is how long it takes to visit and see everything, or how long a session lasts for. As a less abled person, it usually takes longer to get around so check for time constraints or plan to arrive in plenty of time. Check they have Blue Badge parking spaces or an option to reserve a space.
A lot of attractions and venues now offer the hire of mobility aids such as Trampers. These off-road mobility vehicles (similar to scooters) need to be booked beforehand. There is sometimes a hire charge or you can join a scheme such as Countryside Mobility Scheme to gain access to Trampers across the UK. If you are using your own powered wheelchair, make sure it’s fully charged. It’s useful to take any chargers or spare batteries with you so that you can enjoy a full day out.
Author: Nigel Steele
Nigel Steele
Nigel Steele is the creator of Accessible Great Days Out UK
Website: agdo.uk
X: @AgdoUK
Facebook: @AccessibleGDO
